Iron-framed distributing-board for telephone-exchanges.



No. 816,847. PATENTEDAPR. 3,1906.

` E. B. 000K. IRON FRAMED DISTRIBUTING BOARD POR TELEPHONE EXCHANGES.APPLIOATIOH FILED FBBJ, 1903.

PATBNTBD APR. 3, 1906.

P. B. OOOK. IRON FRAMED MSTRIBUTINOBOARO POR TELEPHONE BXOHANGES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2, 1903.

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PATENT; ornron.

FRANK B. COOK, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. IRON-FRAMED DlsTlBu'l-INGFB'OARDFon TELEPHONE-EXQHANGES.

- Be it known that I, FRANK B. 000K, a ein;

zen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, Cookcounty, Illinois,

have invented a certain new and useful Imrovement in Iron-FramedDistributingcards for Telephone-Exchanges, of which the following isaspecification.

In telephone systems it is the ractice to emplo at the central stationswat are ordinari y known .as distributing boards. Thesedistributing-boards are employed as a means for uniting .the incomingline-wires With the Wires or`conductors leading to the switchboardapparatus. Ordinarily in 'a' structure of this character the arrangementis such that the connections can be made or broken at will and also suchthat the connections may be interchanged.l 2O

Generally stated, it is the object of my invention to provide animproved iron-frame distributing-board which will facilitate in theconnecting and disconnecting of the linewires with theVswitchboard-wires. i A special object is to provide a construction andarrangement whereby the line-wire cables may be led into the back of theboard either vertically or horizontally and with as much facility oneway as the other.

It is also an'object to provide certain details and features ofimprovement tending to i increase the general efficiency of adistributing-board of this particular character.

rear elevation of t Fig. 4. Fig. 6=is a vertical section on line .6 6.

To the foregoing and other useful ends my invention consists in Amattershereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of my improvediron-frame distributmghoard. Fig. 2-is a side elevation of the same.Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3 in Fig..2. Fig. 4 is anenlarged lan of one of the 'terminal blocks and the adjacent portion ofthe su porting-arm. Y Fig. v5 is a he terminal -block shown in in Fig.4. Fig. 'is a side elevation of the strip of insulation in which themetal'terminal stri s are mounted.

As t us illustrated, my improved iron.- frame distributin f board maycom riseA a main or body portion A of any suital` e form orconstruction.Preferably, however, this frame' involves a ,number of 4rearwardly-ex-"f tendin arms or bars a. At their forward endsvt ese horizontal armsare preferably specification of Letters Patent. Application filedFebruary, 1903.. Serial No. 141,459.

Patented April 3, 1906.

provided with vertically-arranged supports a', adapted 'to serve asmounting-strips for any of the well-known or a roved forms of protectivedevices. As willplli) arrangement is preferably `such that the saidsupporting arms are arranged vertical rows, the members of each rowbeing united Y e,observed, the

or connected at their forward ends b one of the supports ormountingfstrips a. e character and purpose of these vertical supports aare, however, wellunderstood by those skilled in the'art anddo not,therefore, need any further-description. It is the construction of theductors. So in the resent case the linewire cables are led into t e backof the frame-like distributing-board and are there connected lwithline-terminal strips which are mounted `back or rear portion Vof theframe or distributon the rear ends of the horizontallydisposed lsupportin -arms a., andwith the arrangement .shown andescribedptheot'her ends of lthese terminal strips are then connected,through the medium of the protective devices mounted. on the supportsa', with the apparatus of the switchboard. The said terminal strips are,however, referably mounted on terminal blocks B, eacliblockbeingremovablysecured to the rear end of one of the arms a. With thisconstruction, the line-terminal strips Z) are all mounted on the facesof terminal blocks whichare arranged in rows both vertically andhorizontally. In other words, each terminalblock is provided with avertical strip of insulation b', adapted to. sup ort the said metallicterminal strips-Z), and when arranged as shown in the drawings 'bothhorizontal and vertical rowsare, therefore, made up of vertically-disposed line-terminal strips. The body portion of each terminal block ispreferably provided at each side with a number of small openings b2,arranged conveniently with respect to the opposite ends of the saidline-terminal strips. Each block is also preferably provided\with ashank b3, adapted to lie in the channel of the arm a., to which it isattached. In additionto vthesefeatures a supporting-ring b4 isassociated .with each termmal block and'is inserted through the saidshank and su portingfframe, in such manner as'to assist in oldingthertwotogether. Thus each verticall -dis osed terminal block consists,preferab y, o a body portion having a rearwardly-extending ridge b5,upon which latter can be mounted the strip of insulation b. Furthermore,the body portion of each terminal biock is preferably provided at eachside with a double row of conductor-openings, the openings of one rowalternating with the openings o the adjacent row, so as to securecompactness and a close arrangement of the said terminal strips. Theframework or body of the distributing-board is also preferablyconstructed vwith a number of supporting-rings C, ywhich are adapted tosupport the conductors, serving as the means of electrical connectionbetween the line-terminal strips at the rear of the board and theswitchboard terminals or protective devices at the front of the' board.

Now with the foregoing arrangementthat is to say, with the provision ofthe terminal blocks, which are arranged in rows both vertically andhorizontally at the back of the board-the connecting and disconnect--ing of the line-wires at the back of the board is greatly facilitated.Furthermore, with this arrangement of the line-terminal strips in grou sat the back of the board the linewire ca les can be led in eithervertically or horizontally, according to the conditions or requirementsof any particular case. In other words, conditions are such that it issometimes desirable and erha s most convenient to lead the line-wire cales horizontally into the backof the board. Again, and

' on the other hand, it is often desirable and the blocks is of suchcharacter as to most convenient to lead the line-wire cables verticallyinto the back of the board; but in either case the distribution` of theline-wires land the attachment of the same to the linewire-terminalstrips is with my im roved construction accomplished with equa,facility. Thus it will be seen that the blocks B, supporting theline-terminal strips b, are arranged in rows both vertically andhorizontally and with ample space between. In other words, the separatedarrangement pf eat y facilitate the work of establishing andisestablishing connections or of shifting or changmg connections, andin addition it will be seen that both ends of the line-terminal strips bare located at the outer side of the blocks, thus making it easy tosolder on the different wires.

The specific construction of the .terminal blocks, involving, as will beobserved, the arrangement of the line-terminal strips in two rows withthe members of one row alternating with the members of the other row, asshown moreclearlyinFig. 7, and the ari angelment of the' openings in theterminal blocks in rows, the members of one row alternating with thoseof the' adjacent row is, I find of advantage, as it insures greatercompactness in the arran ement of the wires and different parts and a sotends to facilitate the estab.- lslung and disestablishiug of theconnections.

In making the connections the line-wires are led from the cablesthroughthe rings b4 and are then distributed through the openings b2. are thensoldered to their proper line-terminal strips, and, as previouslyexplained, the connections with the switchboard are then made throughthe medium of wires having their rear ends soldered to the other ends ofthe line-terminal strips at the rear of the board and having theirforward ends soldered or otherwise suitably connected with theprotective devices at the front of the board. With my improvedarrangement these connections can be made readily and with great nfacility and can also be broken or interchanged with facility andconvenience. The advantages of my improved construction wil l, however,be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. A further explanationis therefore unnecessary.

What I claim as my invention is- After this the ends of the line-wires'1. In a distributingboard,' the combination of a su porting-framehaving rearwardly-exten 'ng arms, a terminal block secured to the rearend of each of said arms, said blocks being arranged in rows bothvertically and horizontally, and a conductor-supporting ring associatedwith each block.

2. In a distributing-board, the combination of a supporting-frame, thesaid frame having horizontally-dis osed rearwardly-extending arms, aplura ty of vertically-disposed supports secured to the forward ends ofsaid arms, and terminal blocks secured to the rear ends of said arms,said blocks being arranged in rows, both vertically and horizontallythere being but a single supportingarm for each block, and the blocksall being readily removable from their respective arms.

3. In a distributing-board, the combination of aisupporting-frame, saidframehaving horizontally-disposed rearwardly-extending arms, andterminal blocks secured to the rear ends of said arms, said blocks beingarranged in rows,; both vertically and horizontally there beingbut asingle supporting-arm for each block, and the blocks al being removablefrom their respective arms.

4. In a distributing-board, the combination of a supporting-frame, thesaid frame having horizontally-disposed rearwardly-extending arms, aplurality of metallic supporting-strips secured to the forward ends ofsaid arms, and a terminal block secured to the rear end of each arm. 'l

5. In a distributing-board, the combination of a supporting-frame, aplurality of terminal blocks arranged in horizontal rows at the back ofsaid frame, and with space between the rows, the members of each rowreadily Ioo sie,e47 B havin a'vertical arrangement, and a luralin P itof e-terminal strips secured to the face o each block, the strips ofeach block being mountedone above the other there being but `th ocks albeing readily removable from v their respective arms.

6. In a distributing-board, the combination ofa metal frame -providedwith arms, a terminal block secured to the end of each arm each blockbeing rovided with four rows of holes, the holes oi) one row alternatingwith those of the adjacent row, and a lurality of metal line-terminalstrips suitab y mounted upon the outerface of each block, the terminalstrips of each block being arranged in two rows, the members of one rowof terminals alternating with those of the other row.

7. In a distributing-board, the combination of a su porting-frame, aplurality of terminal bloc s secured to the back of said frame, saidblocks being arranged in vertically-extending rows, and'with spacebetween thevrows, the membersl of each row having a verticalarrangement, and a plurality of line-terminal strips secured to the faceof each block, the strips of each block being mounted one above theother each block being removably secured to the frame by a singleattaching-bracket. y

- 8. In a distributing-board, the combination of an irn frame rov'idedwith arms, a metal bracket removaii of each arm, terminal blockssuitably secured to said brackets, said blocks being arranged in rowsboth vertically and horizontall with space between, and a group of metaline- -terminal strips Asuitably mounted upon the outer face of eachblock.

9. In a distributing-board, the combination of a su porting-frame, aplurality of terminal'bloc s secured to the back of said frame, saidblocks being arranged in rows both vertically and horizontally, and withspace between the vertical and horizontal rows, and a plurality ofline-.terminal strips secured to -each block each block'being removablysecured to the frame by a single at taching-bracket.

10. An iron framed distributingboard having itsback provided with aplurality of vertically-disposed strips of insulation carryinghorizontally-'disposed metallic line-ter'- minal strips, said strips ofinsulation being arranged in rows, both vertically and hori- 'zontalyand each strip of insulation being removably connected with the framethrough the medium of a single attaching-bracket.`

- 11. In a distributing-block for a distributing-board, the combinationof` a terminal lock, a strip of insulation secured thereto, rows ofmetal-lic terminal clips extending through the' strip of insulation andsuitably secured thereto, holes through the terminal block arranged'toaccommodate conductors a single sup orting-arm for each block, and

ly secured to the end l leading from the terminal clips, a suitablebracket secured to the terminal block for mounting same to thedistributing-frame, and a distributing-ring secured to the said bracketand through which the said conductors extend.

12. In aldistributinglblock for a distributing-board, the combination ofa terminal block, a strip of insulation secured thereto, metallicterminal clips extending through the stri of insulation and suitablysecured thereblock, a strip of insulation secured thereto, metallicterminal clips extending through the strip of insulation and suitablysecured there'- to and holes through the terminal block arranged inparallel rows, the holes of one row alternating or bein staggered withthe holes of another row, an adapted to accommodate conductors leadingfrom the terminal clips.

14. A strip of insulating material, holes extending transversely throughthe said' strip so as to be entirely surrounded by the material thereof,metallic terminal chps inserted endwise through the said holes so as toleave space between a portion ofthe surface of each c ip and a ortionofthe surface of each hole, respective y, and bent ortions on theinserted ends of the clips, fldrmed thereon after same are inserted, tosecurely clamp the said clips in place in the said holes.

A 15. In a distributing-block for a distributing-board, the combinationof a terminal block, a strip of insulation secured thereto, rows ofmetallic terminal clips extending through holes in the said strip ofinsulation and bent at each side of the strip of insulation to clamp thesaid'clips in place in the' said. holes, and rows of holes through theterminal block arranged to accommodate conductors leading from theterminal clips.

16. In a distributing-board of the character described, a terminal blockB, a stri of insulation b suitably secured to't'he bloci B, rows ofholes extending transversely through the strip of insulation b', theholes of one row alternating with the holes of another ing-board,` thecombination of a terminal IOO IIO

Iig

row, terminal strips b b extending through the said holes in the stripof insulation b', each said terminal stri b being offset or bent at eachend of the ho e through which it extends to clamp it in the said hole,holes b3 b2 extending through the terminal block B adjacent to theterminal strips b b, the conductors leading from the terminal strips b bpassin through the said holes b2 b2, a bracket secure to the block Bandadapted to be secured to the iron frameworkof a distributing-board orthe like, and a distributing-ring b4 suitably secured to the saidbracket and throughV l which the said conductors extend, substantiallyas described.

17. In a distributing-board, the combination of a sup orting-frameprovided with horizontallysposed arms, vertically-disposedprotector-strips carriedby the forward ends of thesaid arms, terminalblocks carried by the rearward ends of said arms and arranged in rowsboth vertically and horizontally with space between, each block beingmounted separately on its supporting-arm, and suitable terminal stripscarried by the said blocl'rs.

18. In a distributing-board, the combination of vertically-arrangedsupports carrying 'horizontally-disposed arms, verticallydisposedprotector-strips carried by the forward ends ofthe-said arms, suitableprotectors carried by the nprotector-strips, terminal blocks carried bythe rearward ends of said arms and arranged in rows both vertically andhorizontally with space between, each block being mounted se arately onitssupporting-arm, suitable strips of insulation carried by the saidblocks, metallic terminal stri s carried by the said strips ofinsulation', an suitable distributing-rings to accommodate thejumper-Wires leading` from the protectors to the terminal blocks.

Signed by me at-'Chicagq Cook county, Illinois, this 28th day ofJanuary, 1903.

' FRANK B. COOK.

' Witnesses:

A. GARDINER, HARRY P. BAUMGARTNER.

